Paris Saint-Germain dominated Liverpool to emerge with a 2-0 victory that could have been far greater in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal in Paris on Wednesday.

Last season's Champions League winners scored a goal in each half, through Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but had two strong penalty appeals denied and missed a host of other chances that could have put the result of the tie beyond doubt before next week's second leg.

Instead, Liverpool will welcome PSG to Anfield with hope still alive, though knowing they will need a huge improvement on a performance that saw them fail to register a single shot on goal.

Arne Slot responded to a humiliating 4-0 FA Cup exit at Manchester City on Saturday by dropping Mohamed Salah to the bench and opting for an unfamiliar three centre-back formation.

But despite the conservative strategy, Liverpool were grateful for some poor finishing from Ousmane Dembélé and important stops by goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP via Getty Images

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Doué put the hosts ahead in the 11th minute with a deflected effort that looped over Mamardashvili -- who was deputising for the injured Alisson Becker -- and under the crossbar.

Mamardashvili made a fine close-range save late in the first half from Doué after he was set up by Dembélé.

Another flowing PSG move moments later ended with Dembélé fluffing his shot from inside the area. A worse finish followed, and Dembélé held his head in his hands after blazing over from close range in the 53rd following a cut back by Nuno Mendes.

Kvaratskhelia then added another solo goal to his collection midway through the second half.

The Georgia star cut in from the left flank and, with typically quick feet, skipped past a defender and the goalkeeper before stroking in his team-leading seventh goal of the competition. He also became the first Paris Saint-Germain player to score in four consecutive Champions League knockout games.

Things looked set to go from bad to worse for Liverpool just five minutes later. José María Sánchez pointed to the spot for Ibrahima Konaté's challenge on Warren Zaïre-Emery, only for the referee to be sent to the pitchside monitor by the VAR and overturn the decision.

Mamardashvili was called into action by Achraf Hakimi and Dembélé rifled off the near post as PSG pushed to extend their lead, with Mendes wasting a glorious late chance before Liverpool survived a penalty check.

When the two teams met last season in the round of 16, PSG advanced on penalties after losing 1-0 at home and winning 1-0 at Anfield.

The task seems less difficult this time around for PSG with Liverpool facing a trophyless season. However, six-time champions Liverpool overcame a 3-0 first-leg loss against Barcelona in the 2019 semifinals before winning 4-0 at home.

The Associated Press and PA contributed to this report.